Safa sitting pretty with healthy surplus of R17m
They initiate attacks by collecting the ball from defenders and try to find wingers or strikers with their passes. They put in their fair share of work to defend as well, making interceptions and putting in a tackle or two as they protect the back four.
Zungu, linked with a move to Portugal, has been phenomenal in midfield for Sundowns this season and has even become a starter ahead of Dean Furman in the Bafana Bafana squad.
The 23-year-old, who is a good passer of the ball and has improved in his tackling, has played 11 matches in all competitions, has scored one goal and has an assist.
Letsholonyane, meanwhile, has not quite been at his best this season, failing to stamp his authority in midfield like he did when Amakhosi conquered last term to clinch the Absa Premiership and MTN8 titles.
The 33-year-old has played 17 times in all competitions, scoring once and assisting two of Amakhosi’s goals this season.
Ahead of their meeting on Wednesday, we talk to two
DEEP-LYING MEN: Bongani Zungu, left, of Sundowns will test an old hand at Chiefs — Reneilwe Letsholonyane central midfielders who played for both Sundowns and Chiefs, Jabulani Mendu and Linda Buthelezi. They analyse the two midfielders and they both agree on one thing, that youth will win the battle over experience in the Ziwa Mo tie. He is still going to grow as a player, but he is doing well at the moment. He is more responsible now because midfield stays in tact. He is a ball player, he can tackle now and he wins aerial balls because of his height. He has grown as a footballer and I am proud.
He was overshadowed by Pitso Mosimane’s love for Teko Modise, but I think Pitso has realised that Zungu is a far better player than Teko.
And because of this, Zungu is growing in confidence. He is in charge of the midfield, the attacking and defending. He is involved in every moment.
This year he has brought nothing for Chiefs. He is not having a good season at all.
We have not seen the “Yeye” that we know, the one with the combination plays, the quick one-twos and blind runs. Lately I am not sure about him. Chiefs lack that “Yeye” that would give them about five goals in 10
He has very good qualities. He is tall and he is very focused on the pitch. He is ambitious and you can see that he wants to go somewhere in his career.
He’s not a good tackler because he is coming from an attacking midfield position, but he can pass the ball. He knows that the first touch is very important and that’s what helps him.
The coach is behind him. He’s got a coach that loves him. Teko was the main man in midfield for Sundowns, but Zungu is the one who is important.
In his position, you don’t do too many things with the ball — you help the defence, win the ball and pass it.
It’s Zungu’s time now, but he needs to work harder. You can see that he is a happy player now.
He is a very intelligent player. He creates things, plays onetwos and he wants to get into the box. He is your typical Soweto player. I agree that he is not at his best at the moment, but he is still a key player and a team player. I think he can still make it (in the Bafana Bafana team) if they give him a chance.
What I also like is that he can also score goals. When he plays those one-twos it means he sees something. He can create goals and he scores some as well. For him it’s about enjoying the game.
I think I will give this one to Zungu. He is doing well at the moment. “Yeye” needs to be careful because Zungu is a very ambitious player. He needs to use his experience. IN THE BLACK: South African Football Association president Danny Jordaan THE South African Football Association (Safa) is in one of its healthiest financial states ever, president Danny Jordaan announced at the body’s annual general meeting yesterday.
Jordaan announced that in the second year of the financial turnaround plan instituted in 2013, Safa, after two years of successive losses of R76-million and R46-million, could declare a profit last year of R12-million and this year R41-million.
Safa’s acquisition of the Fun Valley Pleasure Resort in the south of Johannesburg to begin developing their new National Technical Centre (NTC) was key in increasing the association’s capitalisation from R156-million to R275-million.
The annual general meeting at Sandton Convention Centre approved a budget for 2015-16 with an income of R335-million, and expenses of R318-million, at a surplus of R17-million on already acquired revenue.
Jordaan said Safa’s sources of income this year included:
The R25-million signing of the Burger King sponsorship for the boys’ under-17, under-19 and under-20 national teams;
Funding from the 2010 World Cup Legacy Trust for the under13 and under-15 leagues in local football associations at about R70-million, plus R82.5-million to buy and develop Fun Valley; and
A R40-million sponsorship for the ABC Motsepe League (the fourth division).
A contribution of R73-million over a three-year period from the Safa Development Agency was noted. Safa has secured broadcast rights deals worth R100-million a year.
“We’re fully aware the bottom line for people is the performance of the national teams, especially Bafana Bafana,” Jordaan said.
Finance committee chairman Gay Mokoena said in an economic climate where statistics indicated companies were cutting sports sponsorship, Safa posted a surplus of R40.7-million. Key to this was the association reducing expenditure by 14.7% and administration costs by 22%.
Safa’s trump card was the performance of its junior national teams. For the first time all three — under-17, under-20 and under-23 — qualified for their continental championships in the same year, with the under17s reaching their World Cup.
Greater activity meant Safa spent R19-million on junior teams compared to R9-million last year.
“I don’t think Safa’s balance sheet has ever been stronger in terms of financial assets as a result of the acquisition of the NTC,” said Jaco van der Walt, partner at Safa consultants Ernst and Young.
Safa chief executive Dennis Mumble said challenges facing the local economy and lack of sponsorship for junior national teams remained a concern. Safa had three congresses in 2015.
Yeye can create goals and he scores some as well. For him it’s about enjoying the game